Galen College of Nursing
NSG 4100
Exam 1
Review
Leadership and Management in Nursing - Comprehensive Study Guide
Course: NSG 4100 Leadership and
Management in Nursing
Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Exam Cycle: 2026/2027 Academic Year
Content: 100% Correct Exam Preparation
Material - 50 Questions
Galen College of Nursing
,Section 1: Nursing Leadership Theories and Styles
1. A nurse manager encourages staff nurses to participate in decision-making regarding unit
scheduling and patient care protocols. The manager provides guidance and support while valuing
team input. Which leadership style is this manager demonstrating?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Democratic (participative) leadership
C. Laissez-faire leadership
D. Transactional leadership
Rationale: Democratic leadership, also called participative leadership, involves the leader
seeking input from team members while retaining final decision-making authority. This
style promotes staff engagement, job satisfaction, and collaborative problem-solving.
Research consistently demonstrates that democratic leadership improves nurse retention,
reduces burnout, and enhances patient outcomes. The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program
identifies democratic leadership as a hallmark of professional nursing practice
environments. Autocratic leadership centralizes decision-making with the leader; laissez-
faire provides minimal guidance; transactional leadership focuses on reward-punishment
exchanges.
2. A nurse leader inspires and motivates staff by articulating a compelling vision, serving as a role
model, and encouraging individual growth beyond self-interest for the good of the organization.
Which leadership theory best describes this approach?
A. Transactional leadership
B. Transformational leadership
C. Situational leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Rationale: Transformational leadership, described by Burns (1978) and Bass (1985),
involves inspiring followers to transcend self-interest for the collective good through
idealized influence (role modeling), inspirational motivation (articulating a vision),
intellectual stimulation (encouraging innovation), and individualized consideration
(mentoring). This is the most evidence-supported leadership style in nursing, associated
with improved staff satisfaction, reduced turnover, enhanced patient outcomes, and
stronger organizational culture. The AONE identifies transformational leadership as the
preferred model for nurse executives.
3. A nurse manager provides minimal direction to experienced, self-motivated staff members,
allowing them autonomy in their daily practice. However, the manager remains available for
consultation when needed. Which leadership approach is being utilized?
A. Autocratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Servant leadership
D. Situational leadership
Rationale: Situational leadership theory (Hersey and Blanchard) proposes that effective
leaders adapt their style based on the follower's readiness level (competence and
commitment). Experienced, self-motivated staff (high readiness) require a delegating
approach with minimal supervision, while new graduates (low readiness) require a more
directive approach. This is distinct from laissez-faire leadership, which provides minimal
guidance regardless of staff readiness and can lead to role confusion. The key differentiator
is that situational leadership intentionally matches leadership behavior to follower
development level.
4. A charge nurse focuses on identifying and meeting the needs of staff members, prioritizing their
well-being, professional development, and growth. The nurse believes that by serving the team, the
team will provide the best patient care. This best describes which leadership philosophy?
A. Servant leadership
1
, B. Transactional leadership
C. Autocratic leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Rationale: Servant leadership, conceptualized by Robert Greenleaf (1977), prioritizes the
growth, well-being, and empowerment of followers as the primary goal of leadership. The
servant leader asks 'What can I do for you?' rather than 'What can you do for me?' In
nursing, this translates to advocating for staff development, ensuring adequate resources,
removing barriers to practice, and creating a supportive work environment. Research
demonstrates that servant leadership in nursing correlates with increased staff
engagement, reduced burnout, higher job satisfaction, and improved patient safety
outcomes.
Section 2: Nursing Management Principles
5. Which management function involves determining organizational goals, developing strategies,
and outlining the activities needed to achieve objectives?
A. Controlling
B. Organizing
C. Planning
D. Staffing
Rationale: Planning is the first and foundational management function, involving setting
objectives, developing policies and procedures, determining resource requirements, and
establishing timelines. In nursing management, planning includes strategic planning (long-
term organizational goals), operational planning (day-to-day unit management), and
tactical planning (intermediate departmental goals). The nursing process (ADPIE) parallels
the management process (planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling). Effective
planning requires analysis of internal and external environments, identification of
stakeholders, and development of measurable outcomes per ANA standards.
6. A nurse manager is reorganizing the unit's staffing model by restructuring shifts, reassigning
roles based on competency, and establishing new reporting relationships. Which management
function is being performed?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Directing
D. Controlling
Rationale: Organizing involves arranging resources (human, material, financial) to
achieve organizational objectives. This includes establishing the organizational structure,
defining roles and responsibilities, allocating resources, and coordinating activities. The
nurse manager organizing a staffing model is performing a core organizing function. Key
principles include span of control (appropriate number of subordinates per manager), unity
of command (each employee reports to one supervisor), and division of labor (assigning
tasks based on competency and scope of practice). Organizing directly impacts unit
efficiency, staff satisfaction, and patient care quality.
7. During a performance review, a nurse manager evaluates whether the unit met its quality
benchmarks for patient falls and hospital-acquired infections, compares actual outcomes to
established standards, and identifies corrective actions. Which management function does this
represent?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Directing
D. Controlling
Rationale: Controlling is the management function of monitoring performance,
comparing outcomes to established standards, and implementing corrective actions as
needed. In nursing, controlling includes quality monitoring (fall rates, infection rates,
2
NSG 4100
Exam 1
Review
Leadership and Management in Nursing - Comprehensive Study Guide
Course: NSG 4100 Leadership and
Management in Nursing
Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Exam Cycle: 2026/2027 Academic Year
Content: 100% Correct Exam Preparation
Material - 50 Questions
Galen College of Nursing
,Section 1: Nursing Leadership Theories and Styles
1. A nurse manager encourages staff nurses to participate in decision-making regarding unit
scheduling and patient care protocols. The manager provides guidance and support while valuing
team input. Which leadership style is this manager demonstrating?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Democratic (participative) leadership
C. Laissez-faire leadership
D. Transactional leadership
Rationale: Democratic leadership, also called participative leadership, involves the leader
seeking input from team members while retaining final decision-making authority. This
style promotes staff engagement, job satisfaction, and collaborative problem-solving.
Research consistently demonstrates that democratic leadership improves nurse retention,
reduces burnout, and enhances patient outcomes. The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program
identifies democratic leadership as a hallmark of professional nursing practice
environments. Autocratic leadership centralizes decision-making with the leader; laissez-
faire provides minimal guidance; transactional leadership focuses on reward-punishment
exchanges.
2. A nurse leader inspires and motivates staff by articulating a compelling vision, serving as a role
model, and encouraging individual growth beyond self-interest for the good of the organization.
Which leadership theory best describes this approach?
A. Transactional leadership
B. Transformational leadership
C. Situational leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Rationale: Transformational leadership, described by Burns (1978) and Bass (1985),
involves inspiring followers to transcend self-interest for the collective good through
idealized influence (role modeling), inspirational motivation (articulating a vision),
intellectual stimulation (encouraging innovation), and individualized consideration
(mentoring). This is the most evidence-supported leadership style in nursing, associated
with improved staff satisfaction, reduced turnover, enhanced patient outcomes, and
stronger organizational culture. The AONE identifies transformational leadership as the
preferred model for nurse executives.
3. A nurse manager provides minimal direction to experienced, self-motivated staff members,
allowing them autonomy in their daily practice. However, the manager remains available for
consultation when needed. Which leadership approach is being utilized?
A. Autocratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Servant leadership
D. Situational leadership
Rationale: Situational leadership theory (Hersey and Blanchard) proposes that effective
leaders adapt their style based on the follower's readiness level (competence and
commitment). Experienced, self-motivated staff (high readiness) require a delegating
approach with minimal supervision, while new graduates (low readiness) require a more
directive approach. This is distinct from laissez-faire leadership, which provides minimal
guidance regardless of staff readiness and can lead to role confusion. The key differentiator
is that situational leadership intentionally matches leadership behavior to follower
development level.
4. A charge nurse focuses on identifying and meeting the needs of staff members, prioritizing their
well-being, professional development, and growth. The nurse believes that by serving the team, the
team will provide the best patient care. This best describes which leadership philosophy?
A. Servant leadership
1
, B. Transactional leadership
C. Autocratic leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Rationale: Servant leadership, conceptualized by Robert Greenleaf (1977), prioritizes the
growth, well-being, and empowerment of followers as the primary goal of leadership. The
servant leader asks 'What can I do for you?' rather than 'What can you do for me?' In
nursing, this translates to advocating for staff development, ensuring adequate resources,
removing barriers to practice, and creating a supportive work environment. Research
demonstrates that servant leadership in nursing correlates with increased staff
engagement, reduced burnout, higher job satisfaction, and improved patient safety
outcomes.
Section 2: Nursing Management Principles
5. Which management function involves determining organizational goals, developing strategies,
and outlining the activities needed to achieve objectives?
A. Controlling
B. Organizing
C. Planning
D. Staffing
Rationale: Planning is the first and foundational management function, involving setting
objectives, developing policies and procedures, determining resource requirements, and
establishing timelines. In nursing management, planning includes strategic planning (long-
term organizational goals), operational planning (day-to-day unit management), and
tactical planning (intermediate departmental goals). The nursing process (ADPIE) parallels
the management process (planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling). Effective
planning requires analysis of internal and external environments, identification of
stakeholders, and development of measurable outcomes per ANA standards.
6. A nurse manager is reorganizing the unit's staffing model by restructuring shifts, reassigning
roles based on competency, and establishing new reporting relationships. Which management
function is being performed?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Directing
D. Controlling
Rationale: Organizing involves arranging resources (human, material, financial) to
achieve organizational objectives. This includes establishing the organizational structure,
defining roles and responsibilities, allocating resources, and coordinating activities. The
nurse manager organizing a staffing model is performing a core organizing function. Key
principles include span of control (appropriate number of subordinates per manager), unity
of command (each employee reports to one supervisor), and division of labor (assigning
tasks based on competency and scope of practice). Organizing directly impacts unit
efficiency, staff satisfaction, and patient care quality.
7. During a performance review, a nurse manager evaluates whether the unit met its quality
benchmarks for patient falls and hospital-acquired infections, compares actual outcomes to
established standards, and identifies corrective actions. Which management function does this
represent?
A. Planning
B. Organizing
C. Directing
D. Controlling
Rationale: Controlling is the management function of monitoring performance,
comparing outcomes to established standards, and implementing corrective actions as
needed. In nursing, controlling includes quality monitoring (fall rates, infection rates,
2
